1 CD
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€ 19.95
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Label Challenge Records |
UPC 0608917355222 |
Catalogue number CR 73552 |
Release date 07 October 2022 |
"... There's no sign of gray, however, in the luminous and vibrant songs that come primarily from Mendes' last album, "Close To Me" ..."
Jazzthing, 25-10-2022From her native Portugal to her adopted home in the Netherlands, Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer Maria Mendes has traveled a world of musical expression. Hailed by DownBeat magazine as “a jazz singer of the highest order,” Mendes’ praises have been sung by such legends as Quincy Jones and Hermeto Pascoal. On her third release, Close To Me (Justin Time), Mendes fuses jazz and Fado in collaboration with Grammy winners John Beasley and the Metropole Orkest. The vocalist has released three striking solo albums and thrilled audiences around the world, including performances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC, North Sea and Montreux Jazz festivals. Mendes brings vibrant passion to every performance, whether in an intimate club or backed by orchestras and big bands. Her wealth of influences and experiences help make up what Exclusive magazine called “one of the most engaging, enchanting vocal approaches…that exists today.”
Close To Me got awarded with the 2020 EDISON® music prize for Best Jazz Vocal Album (equivalent to the Grammy, this is the most important Dutch music award).
... There's no sign of gray, however, in the luminous and vibrant songs that come primarily from Mendes' last album, "Close To Me" ...
Jazzthing, 25-10-2022
... the Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated Portuguese sings, scats and phrases great. And that alone makes this unusual idea with the fado and jazz an all-around success.
virginjazzface, 11-10-2022
... A melange that is fascinating, because it transports the fados sung in the original mostly by fado queen Amália Rodrigues into the now and today, takes away the very big drama, but not the emotions, and transforms them into swinging, but also forward pushing and improvised moments, into soulful, but also sometimes a little biting orchestrated jazz pieces...
nrwjazznet, 11-10-2022
The live-atomsphere makes this album special...
Jazzism, 01-12-2022
... Together with the 30-piece Metropole Orkest under direction of John Beasley combined the Portuguese Fado with symphonic symphonic jazz and the folk music of her of her homeland. An experience!
Inmusic, 01-12-2022
This music is rich, spiritual and magic. You hear love, you hear passion.
Jazzism, 01-12-2022
... ... And Maria herself often enough uses her clear and of melodic turns filled voice as an instrument and scatted wordlessly and expressively.
Musikansich, 25-11-2022
...you don't have to be a fan of fado nor a diehard fan of jazz to embrace this album...
Rootstime, 22-11-2022
Maria Mendes swirlingly evokes the spirit of fado in 'Saudade, Coulor of Love' with her own adventurous soul and expression to a contemporary dimension with a blend of improvisation as a stepping stone to jazz with an excellent rhythm section and an excellent Metropole Orkest inspired by John Beasley.
Jazzhalo, 22-11-2022
As most readers of my reviews know I am generally not that enthusiastic about vocal jazz, however there are always exceptions, first of all this is not pure jazz, it is fado, the Portuguese “blues” but here in a whole new way dressed by the accompaniment of the fabulous Metropole Orkest and secondly, this is a singer whose voice will leave no one unmoved, as clear and pure and as full of conviction as I have rarely heard.
rootstime, 01-11-2022
... Colors and moods of the orchestra support the combination of sentiment and expression, while her combo provides the necessary portion of jazz.
nadann, 26-10-2022
... Impressively atmospheric, with excellent soloists, among them Maria Mendes herself.
Concerto, 12-10-2022
... All the more I recommend this unique musical material, on which Maria Mendes adds vocals in her own way and John Beasley has created a unique arranged background.
jazzfun, 10-10-2022
... Her recording moves somewhere between jazz and fado. In doing so, Maria Mendes takes every opportunity to present all facets of her voice.
Fono Forum, 04-10-2022
... Suddenly, however, the opener "Com Que Voz" transforms. Maria Mendes and the orchestra under the direction of John Beasley strip off their smoothly ironed outfit and drift into a whirlpool full of piano clusters and clarinet scales...
Jazzthing, 23-8-2022
... Her recording moves somewhere between jazz and fado. In doing so, Maria Mendes takes every opportunity to present all facets of her voice.
Stereo